Politics of Naming
Many of you are familiar with the Zinn Education Project, a collaboration between Rethinking Schools and Teaching for Change. We’re pleased to announce that this April, Diversity Month, the Zinn […]
Rethinking Schools
Lessons from the Atlanta testing scandal
Bob Peterson, a Rethinking Schools founding editor and president of the Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association, reflects on the Atlanta testing scandal and the lessons we might learn from it. This […]
A few resources for National Poetry Month
April is National Poetry Month! If you’ve been reading our work for any length of time, you know we’re big fans of poetry, both reading it and using it as […]
Charter Schools and the Future of Public Education
It’s time to refocus public policy on providing excellent public schools for all. by Stan Karp Previously published in the NJEA Review, March 2013. Somewhere along the way, nearly every […]
Free access to Dirty Oil and Shovel-Ready Jobs
With the pending decision about the Keystone XL pipeline in the news–along with the recent huge anti-pipeline demonstrations in Washington, D.C.–we are sharing articles and resources from our archives about […]
Leading Educators Support Teacher Test Boycott
In a public statement released today, more than sixty educators and researchers [UPDATE: now 130+], including some of the most well-respected figures in the field of education, pledged support for […]
Proud to be a Garfield Bulldog
by Wayne Au On the afternoon of Thursday, January 10th, a group of about 15 teachers stood together in the front of room 206 at Garfield High School in Seattle, […]
Rethinkin’ Lincoln
If you’re thinking about going to see the movie “Lincoln” over the holiday break, first read the latest “If We Knew Our History” column by Rethinking Schools curriculum editor Bill […]
The fight against privatization continues. This time in Philadelphia
Recently Philadelphia school parents and the local chapter of the NAACP filed a complaint with the City Ethics Board alleging that a major foundation and the Boston Consulting Group had […]
High-Stakes Harm
Last week, we sent the following message to the folks who have signed up for our e-news, and we didn’t want you to miss out on this special deal. If […]
Crenshaw High and the Battle Over School Reform
A recent Education Week article reported that between 2009 and 2011, 3,700 public schools in the US were closed. Reuters reported that school closings in 2010-11 were up 60% from ten years earlier. The […]
The Struggle for Mexican American Studies Continues
Many of you are familiar with the work of Tucson teacher Curtis Acosta. Acosta is the warm and eloquent—and photogenic!—language arts teacher featured in the film, Precious Knowledge, about Tucson’s […]
Resources for American Indian Month
Over the years, Debbie Reese’s work has been an important resource for educators. Her website, American Indians in Children’s Literature, is an authoritative source of analysis, and was one of […]
It’s Columbus Day…Time to Break the Silence
by Bill Bigelow This past January, almost exactly 20 years after its publication, Tucson schools banned the book I co-edited with Bob Peterson, Rethinking Columbus. It was one of a […]
Won’t Back Down won’t be real about school reform
Thinking about seeing a movie this weekend? Take our advice and avoid Won’t Back Down. Below, Helen Gym, a Rethinking Schools editorial associate and parent activist in Philadelphia, shares why. Her commentary […]
Beware the Trigger
by Wayne Au “Parent triggers” are one of the latest education reforms gaining traction around the country. They appear to be a simple and empowering reform: If the majority of […]
Their Fight Is Our Fight
by Kris Collett On Monday, September 10, 29,000 of our Chicago colleagues went on strike after they failed to reach an agreement over education reforms sought by 1% Mayor Rahm […]
Howard Zinn at 90: Lessons from the People’s Historian
Howard Zinn was a great friend of Rethinking Schools. He generously allowed us to reprint articles of his in the magazine and our books. He agreed to be interviewed by […]
Broad Foundation Wants to Step on the Gas
The Broad Foundation wants to step on the gas….A recent memo from The Broad Center (TBC) proposes a series of strategic shifts in the foundation’s education programs designed to “accelerate” the pace […]
12 Tips for New Teachers
As you prepare for a new school year, we wanted to share this short article by Rethinking Schools editor Larry Miller. While he is no longer in the classroom day-to-day, […]
Charter Schools and Corporate Ed Reform
The following is an excerpt from Charter Schools and the Corporate Makeover of Public Education: What’s at Stake? co-authored by Michelle Fine and Michael Fabricant. The book traces the evolution of […]
Fists of Freedom: An Olympic Story Not Taught in Schools
The latest “If We Knew Our History” column from the Zinn Education Project is by Dave Zirin. In the article, Zirin tells the story behind the famous photo of Tommie […]
Save Our Schools returns
by Stan Karp Last summer, the Save Our Schools march brought thousands of teachers, parents, and supporters of public education to Washington, D.C. The march and rally were hopeful signs […]
Hot Enough for You? Time to Teach Against Fossil Fuels
by Bill Bigelow Here in the Pacific Northwest, we’ve been spared most of the brutal weather experienced in the rest of the country. Throughout the United States, in the month […]
Summer Reading Recommendations
It’s summertime, and who doesn’t need a few good books to take to the beach or park? Listed here are some of the books we’ve recommended in Rethinking Schools magazine in […]